Aquatic Vetinarian

Become: Aquatic Vetinarian

To become a marine mammal veterinarian, follow the basic curriculum and schooling of other veterinarians, but try to gain practical experience with marine mammals by volunteering at an oceanarium or zoo. A few veterinary schools are developing specialized course work in the area of exotic animal medicine, including marine mammals. For more information, contact the American Veterinary Medical Association and the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine.

Source: http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/

About: Aquatic Vetinarian

Aquatic veterinarians are practitioners that specialize in the health management of marine animals.

Duties

Aquatic veterinarians are licensed animal health professionals that are qualified to diagnose and treat a wide variety of marine species which can include fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and other wildlife.

The typical routine for an aquatic vet can vary depending on the specific type of patients they are responsible for treating. General duties include conducting basic exams and evaluations, giving routine vaccinations, taking samples of blood or other bodily fluids, recommending and distributing prescription medications, observing and evaluating behavior, suturing wounds, performing surgical procedures when necessary, conducting follow up exams after treatment, taking x-rays or sonograms, and supervising veterinary technicians or other support staff.

It is common for aquatic veterinarians to work a five to six day week with additional “on call” hours being a possibility depending on the specific nature of their practice.

Source: http://animalcareers.about.com/od/Health/a/Aquatic-Veterinarian.htm